Edwardstown dog owner Belinda Stansfield shocked by Marion Council pet limits
A western suburbs woman is “shocked” after she received a letter saying she’s breaking a council by-law by having two dogs registered at her “small property”. SEE THE LETTER
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An Edwardstown woman says she is shocked to be told she is breaking a council by-law by having two dogs living at her home.
Belinda Stansfield and her two border collies – Corke and Raz – have lived at the Conmurra Avenue house for more than five years.
But last week, Ms Stansfield received a letter from Marion Council saying she needed to lodge an application at a cost of $36 if she intended to “keep more than the prescribed number of dogs”.
The letter outlined a by-law which came into effect in 2014 that states the prescribed number of dogs allowed at any “small property” is one.
Under the regulation, a small property is defined as a self-contained dwelling with less than 100 sqm of unobstructed yard.
“As someone who’s lived in the Marion Council area for 40 years, my dogs are desexed, vaccinated, trained and have always been registered so I don’t understand what’s changed,” Ms Stansfield said.
“So for me to get a letter saying that my premises makes me only a suitable parent to have one dog just baffles me.”
Ms Stansfield is a state manager at pet store chain PETstock and often takes her dogs to work with her.
When they are home alone, the dogs have full access to the house and yard which is approximately 350 sqm in total.
Ms Stansfield is required to pay the application fee and have a council officer inspect her property to allow her to keep the second dog or risk a $187.50 fine.
“I can afford $36, it’s the principle of it and I’m thinking about other pet parents and someone on a pension may not be able to afford something like this,” she said.
“I would like them to have a good look at the bylaw because it seems unreasonable to me.
“It seems like a blanket bylaw.
“Even if you have a massive property it doesn’t mean that your dog lives an enriched life.”
A Marion Council spokesman said many councils had by-laws limiting the number of dogs that can be kept on a premises.
“The by-law places a one-dog limit on smaller properties so as to reduce the impact of barking and nuisances on neighbours,” he said.
“An owner can pay $36 and apply for a permit to keep more than one dog on the premises.
“Before granting a permit, our inspectors will consider any complaints about barking, if the dog has been involved in any attacks, is securely contained in the yard and if the person is able to adequately care for their pet.”